Planning

Those managing the former Bank of Scotland premises at 6 Picardy Place find themselves with a problem

Keasim Events Ltd wants planning permission for another pop-up Festival Village on the roof of Waverley Market this summer (23/02154/FUL). It would operate from June until 30 Sept, with an additional 6-week period for clearance and removal.

Keasmim promises local economic benefits, improved appearance, fittings and access to the site, and less people spill-over onto Princes St near to the bus stop.

A Reporter acting for Scottish Ministers has refused planning permission for a proposed development on the former Jewson’s site at 72–4 Eyre Place.

FIRST THOUGHTS

As first predicted in March (Issue 326, p.2), Danehurst Developments Ltd have submitted a planning application for purpose-built student accommodation at 22, 24–36 Dunedin St (23/02154/FUL).

This is a longer version (with new reactions afterwards) of the article which appeared in Issue 327.

Readers are doubtless familiar with the recent background of short-term lets (STLs) in Edinburgh – namely, that following the passing by the Scottish Government of a law enabling local authorities to designate 'Short-term let planning control areas', City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) immediately announced the establishment of such a control area, covering the whole local-authority area, which came into force on 5 September 2022.

A formal 125-year lease agreement has begun between Edinburgh Council and the Royal High School Preservation Trust. Work will now begin on turning the historic structures and new additions into a home for St Mary’s Music School and a public performance venue.

RHSPT chair Willie Gray Muir said, ‘As we prepare to move ahead into the redevelopment phase, we look forward to collaborating closely with the local community as we keep them up-to-date on progress.’ Work is expected to finish in 2026.

NO HEARING, NO PUBLIC PLATFORM FOR LOCAL VOICES

CA Europe Operating Company has taken its applications for town houses and student housing at 72–4 Eyre Place direct to the Scottish Government (22/03833/FUL; 22/03834/FUL).

The Development Management Sub-Committee hearing agreed on 11 January will not now take place.

In an unprecedented and scathing second objection, Leith Central Community Council has written to all elected members on the Development Management Sub-Cmte in advance of tomorrow’s meeting.

On Thursday this week (26 Jan), councillors on the Finance & Resources Cmte will consider selling off Council-owned land in Eyre Place.

The 552 m² site currently serves as garden space but was, until some point in the late 1980s, a tenement.

Before that, the area had been built on since at least 1804, when John Ainslie's 'Old and New Town of Edinburgh and Leith with the Proposed Docks' was published.

COUNCILLORS TO DETERMINE APPLICATION NEXT WEEK

At the next meeting of the Development Management Sub-Committee on 11 January, councillors will consider CA Eyre Place’s application to build student housing at 72–4 Eyre Place (22/03834/FUL).